Force And Acceleration

Physicist Danysha Miller
Group Members:
Physicist Terrell Merrill
Physicist Victoria Brown
4-25-08
11-2


Objective: The objective of theis experiment was to test Newton's Second Law. It was also to find out if increasing the force on an object increase the accelerstion of the object.

Hypothesis: I think that as we add the washers to the paperclip hook the Hall's cart will slow down.

Materials:
steel rod
piece of string [1m long]
paper clip
Hall's cart
100g mass
washers


Procedure:
1. Tape the steel rod to the edge of a table so that it is directly over the edge. This will act to feduce friction in the experiment.
2.Cut a piece of string 1 meter long. Attach one end of the string to the Hall's cart using a paper clip.
3. Open up a paper clip to form a loop on one end and hook on the other. Tie the loop end of the paper clip to the free end of the string.
4. Put the cart on the table about 3/4 of a meter from the rod and hang the end of the paper clip over the rod. Put the 100g mass in the cart.
5. Add thw washers to the paper clip hook one at a time until the cart begins to move. Carefully observe the speed of the cart as it moves along the table. Repeat 4-5 times and record the number of washers used each time.
6. Repeat step 5, but this time double the force by doubling the number. Observe the speed and acceleration of the cart carefully. Repeat several times. Record your results.
7. Repeat step 7, but this time triple the number of washers used in step 5. Observe the speed and acceleration of the cart carefully. Repeat several times. Record your results.


Data:
-SINGLE
Washer[s] 1- No Motion
Washer[s] 2- No Motion
Washer[s] 3- No Motion
Washer[s] 4- No Motion
Washer[s] 5- Moved at a constant speed to the floor.

-DOUBLE
Washer[s] 2- No Motion
Washer[s] 4- No Motion
Washer[s] 6- Moved at a slow motion.

-TRIPLED
Washer[s] 3- Moved very slowly.
Washer[s] 6- Moved at an constant speed.
Washer[s] 9- Moved very quickly.



Graphs/ Pictures:







Equations:
-f=ma
-1 meter= 39.4 in.
Conclusion: It takes more force to accelerate the cart quickly. In that case my hypothesis was incorrect. AAAWWWW!!! As I added the paper clips the cart moved faster. This experiment does regard Newton's Second Law.